Santa Margarita Catholic High School
We are a community built on: Respect, Responsibility, and Integrity
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SYLLABUS
Religion 3: Morality and Social Justice
Dr. VanderWilt
2010-2011
G113
7:00-7:30 a.m. Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs
vanderwiltj@smhs.org
949-766-6000 ext 4091
COURSE
DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to provide a sound background for the making of
moral social decisions and to respond to the call of justice in daily life.
Our response to contemporary moral issues will be evaluated against the
teachings of Jesus and the Catholic Church. Scripture and Catholic social
teaching are the foundation for this course. Students will respond to the
call of justice as defined by the actions of Jesus and the norms for
Christian discipleship.
COURSE GOALS
& OBJECTIVES:
Religion 3 has three main goals or outcomes: to foster understanding of
the major moral question “What kind of person am I to become?,” to
foster the understanding that justice as exemplified through scripture
and Catholic social teaching is at the center of a solid moral foundation
for the human person, and to promote moral maturity in students against
the background of the worldview and mission of Jesus.
OUR ESLR’s:
Santa Margarita students will become: 1. People of faith, 2. Skilled
lifelong learners, 3. Healthy individuals, and 4. Involved citizens rooted in
the communal dimension of human life.
Goal #1: To foster the understanding of the major moral question “What kind of person am I
becoming and what kind of person do I want to become.” (ESLR #1 and 4)
Objective #1: Students will analyze and formulate solutions to current moral dilemmas
that have a moral effect on their livelihood and future decision making skills in regards
to their worldview.
Objective #2: Students will formulate and present their own personal decision making
process that will assist them in the development of their worldview.
Goal #2: To foster the understanding that the vision of justice as exemplified through scripture
and Catholic Social Teaching is at the center of a solid moral foundation within the human
person. (ESLR #1 and 2)
Objective #1: Students will be able to identify issues of injustice in the local community
and the world and recognize the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching and how it
addresses the social issue.
Objective #2: Students will create individual methodologies based on their experiences
and the Christian vision of justice to formulate social and economic justice for all and
the eradication of prejudice, poverty, and political hypocrisy.
Goal #3: To promote or foster the student’s moral maturation utilizing the worldview and
mission of Jesus in this time and place with the realization that all people are created in the
image of God. (ESLR #1, 2, and 4)
Objective #1: Students will collaborate together to breakdown the walls of oppression
by emulating the examples of justice put forth by social justice heroes such as Sister
Helen Prejean, Dorothy Day, Gandhi and others.
Objective #2: Students will understand and promote the relationship between the
religious and social dimensions of life as one working unit of peace.
COURSE OUTLINE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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6.
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10.
11.
12.
13.
Morality: Choosing What Kind of Person You Become
(2.1, 2.3, 2.4 Healthy and balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
The Christian Vision of Morality: Jesus as the Model of Being Fully Human
(2.1, 2.3, 2.4 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
Helps along the Way: A Journey with Others
(1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.3 People of faith; balanced individuals; involved citizens of the world;
skilled lifelong learners)
Moral Decision-Making: Listening to Reality
(1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners;
involved citizens of the world)
Wise Judgment: Good Conscience in Action (1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.3
People of faith; balanced individuals; involved citizens of the world; skilled lifelong learners)
Justice: Love's Minimum
(1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2 People of faith; balanced individuals; involved citizens
of the world; skilled lifelong learners)
Courage: Facing Our Fears for the Sake of the Good
(1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners;
involved citizens of the world)
Wholeness: Toward Strength, Beauty, and Happiness
(2.1, 2.3, 2.4 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
Honesty: Creating Trust
(2.1, 2.3, 2.4 Healthy and balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
Respect for Persons: Looking Again
(1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners;
involved citizens of the world)
Compassion: Solidarity with Those Who Suffer
(1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
Respect for Creation: The Earth as God's
(1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
Reverence for Human Life: Cherishing the Gift
(1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
14. Peacemaking: Handling Conflict with Creativity
(1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners;
involved citizens of the world)
Course Outline: Peace and Justice
1. The Scriptures and Justice
(2.1, 2.3, 2.4 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
2. Catholic Social Teaching: Justice
(1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
3. Doing Justice: Action
(1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners;
involved citizens of the world)
4. Choosing Life: The “Seamless Garment” Approach
(1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners;
involved citizens of the world)
5. Building Community: Unity in Diversity
(2.1, 2.3, 2.4 Healthy and balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
6. Working with Dignity
(1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners;
involved citizens of the world)
7. Living the Good Life: Breaking the cycle of poverty
(1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.3 People of faith; balanced individuals; involved citizens of the world;
skilled lifelong learners)
8. Living the Good Life II: Sharing the goodness
(1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 People of faith; balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners;
involved citizens of the world)
9. Respect for the Earth: Environmental Justice
(2.1, 2.3, 2.4 Healthy and balanced individuals; skilled lifelong learners)
10. Waging Peace: Response to Violence
(1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2 People of faith; balanced individuals; involved citizens
of the world; skilled lifelong learners)
Also present for one week during each year:
a. Safe Environment Curriculum first semester ( see course description)
b. Family Life Curriculum second semester ( see course description)
TEXTBOOKS:
Growing in Christian Morality by Ahlers, Allaire, and Koch, St. Mary’s
Press, 1996
The New American Bible, Catholic Bible Publishers, Wichita, KS
Living Justice and Peace: Catholic Social Teaching in Practice; by LaNave
and Navarro, Revised and updated edition, St. Mary’s Press; Winona, MN,
2008